Blumenthal, Courtney welcome congressional discussion on Syria

With President Barack Obama now asking for congressional support to take military action against Syria, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, have now said they welcome the discussion and look forward to hearing more information from the president.

On Saturday, Blumenthal released the following statement:

"I'm pleased the President has heeded calls, including mine, for full Congressional consultation on the deplorable and horrific use of chemical weapons in Syria. I look forward to participating in the coming debate and hearing additional details and facts on a framework and strategy for an appropriate U.S. response."

Late Friday night, Courtney released the following statement:

"Last night, the administration took a good first step in crafting the U.S. reaction to the events in Syria by briefing Congressional leaders. While a course of action is still being formulated, I am pleased to hear that the administration is not considering any ground invasion or open-ended military commitment. After ten years and two wars in the Middle East, any indefinite commitment of our military forces is an unacceptable option.

"The president needs to continue to consult with the legislative branch, and communicate directly with the American people about the facts of the situation in Syria and the options for response. As we consider a course of action, Speaker Boehner should cancel the remaining ten days of recess that he scheduled back in January and bring Congress back to Washington to address this and other serious problems facing our country. Syria, sequestration, and a looming government shutdown all require our immediate and unwavering attention."